Tanzania and United Nations launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the country pledging to translate the global programmes into its national plans of action. On its part, the UN hailed Tanzania for having already translated the global goals into the country’s development programmes. Speaking at the launch in Dar es Salaam, the UN Tanzania Resident Coördinator, Mr Alvaro Rodriguez, said that for the first time, governments of all countries have agreed on a set of goals for everyone. “These goals will help all nations and all people share prosperity, reduce poverty and protect the planet from climate change. They will address the interconnected elements of sustainable development, which includes economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection,” he noted.
A commissioner at the President’s Planning Commission, Mr Paul Kessy, pledged the government’s readiness to implement the 15-year goals. He noted that President Jakaya Kikwete and his team were in New York to endorse the global goals with other member states, which was an illustration of Tanzania’s commitment to working with partners such as the UN towards eradicating poverty. He added that this time round, strengthening the means of implementation and revitalising the global partnership for sustainable development has been accorded more emphasis. A commissioner from the Zanzibar Planning Commission, Mr Ahmed Makame, said that as he looks at the 17 SDGs, he feels proud that the country has been part of the global initiative. “I feel optimistic that Tanzania is starting the road to meet the SDGs on the right foot. As we have learnt to the Millennium Development Goals, we saw how important it was to align the national development strategy to the global goals,” Mr Makame pointed out. He added that Zanzibar was in the process of formulating its national development strategy and we have placed meeting the SDGs at the core of the formulation process,” he said. The Ambassador of Ireland to Tanzania, Ms Fionnuala Gilsenan, assured her country’s support for the SDGs, noting that the global goals build on the MDGs but that they are more ambitious and they deal with new dimensions of old problems. “They aim to tackle the complex nature of poverty and inequality. The SDGs cannot be contemplated in isolation from issues such as climate change, gender equality, human rights and tackling underling structural inequality,” she noted. Speaking on behalf of Project Everyone Partners, the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank, Ms Liz Lloyd, asserted the importance of the private sector partnering with the United Nations and the government in spreading the message of the global goals.
“As a bank, we often talk about the importance of being here for good. This is not just a promise but an ethos that we try to live by every day,” she said. Ms Lloyd added that the global goals offer a unique chance to collaborate with other world leading organizations, putting into practice Goal 17 which aims to revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. The SDGs follow and expand on the millennium development goals (MDGs), which were agreed by governments in 2001 and are due to expire at the end of this year. The SDGs are to end poverty in all its forms everywhere; end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture; ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all; and achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Others are to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and full and productive employment.
They further seek decent work for all; and build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. Other goals are to reduce inequality within and among countries; make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns; take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (taking note of agreements made by the UNFCCC forum) ; and conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
The remaining SDGs are to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss; and promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
Others are to provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels; and strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.